Robberies in region continue

The robberies in the Inland Northwest continued Thursday as three women foiled two attempts within minutes of each other by challenging the masked gunmen.

Police don't know if the cases are connected. They occurred more than two miles apart within 12 minutes of each other, one outside a woman's home and another at a Dollar Store. (Yep, you read that right. Someone tried to rob a store where merchandise is sold for no more than a dollar. And left empty handed.)

In each case, the gunman was seen fleeing on foot. No surveillance photos of the culprits exist, said Sgt. Christie Wood. (Read more here.)

Like Spokane County, Kootenai County is seeing a rash of robberies that police say may or may not be connected. It could be several people working together, individuals repeating the crime, or a few people working separately but actively.

"It makes me worried about these vulnerable businesses," Wood said, adding that she was "really concerned about the violent nature of these individuals and how far they'll take it"

Coeur d'Alene police believe robberies Oct. 17 and Oct. 19 at a deli and Dairy Queen are connected, but a holdup at the Super 1 Foods in Hayden Oct. 18 appears to be unrelated, Wood said. (Read more here.)

Spokane County Sheriff's deputies are questioning three men arrested for robbing a Zip Trip Wednesday night but haven't charged them with any other holdups. (Read more here.)